Reagent well feeder



Aug. 7, 1956 B. E. TUCKER 2,757,742

REAGENT WELL FEEDER Filed Nov. l2, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet l @A T k f* 44 lNx/ENTOR 40 /(W- BILLIE E. TUCKER BY We @Q3-0. SMM:

/ /v ATTORNEY Aug- 7, 1955 B. E. TUCKER REAGENT WELL FEEDER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed NOV. l2. 1954 INVENTOR. BILLIE E. TUCKER AT oRNEY Q f N W;

United States Patent O REAGENT WELL FEEDER Billie E. Tucker, Beaumont, Tex., assignor to Sun Oil Company, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of New Jersey Application November 12, 1954, Serial No. 468,313

6 Claims. (Cl. 166-165) i This invention relates generally to apparatus for depositing liquid materials in well bore holes. More particularly, it concerns a device of this kind by means of which treating fluids can be released at selected elevations in the tubing in such wells and in controlled quantities at selected intervals.

Present devices of this type referred to generally as dump bailers take the form of wire suspended, uid supporting containers adapted to release the contents on contact with the bottom of the well, or tube suspended containers through which fluid is emitted at selected elevations. The first type deposits all the treating liquid at one spot and without control. The second form of which this is an improvement is limited in scope, requires auxiliary equipment, and will not permit production operations to take place during the period it is in the tubing. It is an object of the present invention to disclose an apparatus for repeatedly introducing known quantities of lluid materials at selected elevations in a well bore tubing without appreciably interrupting the production of the well.

A further object is to provide a device which can remain in the well bore at one or more selected elevations and repeat the liquid injection treatments without requiring removal after each such operation, and without interference to the production operation of the well.

Other objects and advantages will appear as the deo scription proceeds.

In accordance with the present invention, the above mentioned difliculties are overcome by providing a mixing or contact device which can be positioned in the well 45 bore and is operated by the flow of liuid circulating in the well. Thus by controlling the flow of a producing well in which the disclosed device is positioned, the treating uid in the device is injected in controlled quantities as desired.

The device, in positions of operation, is mustrated in 5 the accompanying drawing, wherein Figure 1 gives a cross-section view of a preferred embodiment of the assembly in one operating position; Figure 2 is a sectional plan view in enlarged detail of Figure 1 taken on line 2 2; Figure 3 is a portion of Figure 1 in enlarged detail 55 showing the second position of operation assumed by the movable element; and Figure 4 is a view of the device, partly in section, showing conventional means cooperating in positioning the device for operation. Corre- 6o sponding elements in the different figures of the drawing are similarly numbered.

Reference to Figure 1 shows the device suspended in operating position in the tubing of a typical bore hole. A tubular shaped body 12 of less diameter than the tubing 10 is attached to a sleeve 14 in turn engaged in a com- 6 mercially available collar stop inclusively indicated by the numeral 16. This suspending element is included only to complete the improved liquid treating device and may be replaced by other similar elements of like char- 70 acteristics. Such positioning means are well known in the art being available on the market from Otis Pressure 2,757,742 Patented Aug. 7, 1956 `ice Control, Inc. and as it does not form part of this invention will be referred to only in general terms as being an element of the combination.

The well feeder suspended by the collar stop 16 noted previously as comprising a tubular shaped body 12, includes a threaded seal 13 at the top of the body, and a vertically movable valve member 20 at the bottom, the valve member 20 having an elongated connecting element 22 terminated by upper and lower conically shaped valve 0 plugs 24 and 26 respectively arranged with the apices directed toward each other. A metering chamber 28 as distinct from the supply chamber or reservoir 30 is separated in the body portion 12 by spaced apart partitions 32 and 34 in which are formed conical valve seats 36 and 38 fashioned to individually receive the valve plugs 24 and 26.

Extending below the lower conical valve plug 26 and from the base thereof, and in alignment therewith, a rod 44 of reduced diameter is suspended to support a disc 40 and a weight 42 vertically spaced from each other and the exposed shoulder of the base of the lower conical valve plug. By reducing the diameter of the rod 44 the intersecting surfaces of the conical valve plug 26, disc 40 and weight 42 are exposed to be acted upon by operating pressures as later described.

Embracing the exposed portion of the valve member 20, that is the weight, disc and base of the lower conical valve plug, are a plurality of centralizing spring members 46 shaped to spring outwardly in contact with the tubing 10 and of suicient length and curved to protect the valve exposed parts. Further centralizing elements in form of springs are placed nearer the top of the body 12 and are here numbered 48. These resilient centralizing elements 46 and 48 in cooperation with a collar stop like that shown, centrally position the reagent feeder in the tube 10.

As a means for keeping the liquid contents of the device in the reservoir as it is lowered into a producing well, rod 52 is directed into contact with the upper conical plug 24 of the valve member 20. This rod 52 is directed through an aperture 54 in collar stop 16 or similar device and aperture 56 in threaded seal 18 to abut the valve member. A leaf spring 58 fastened to the collar stop engages a notch 60 in rod 52 holding the rod in place against external pressures on valve member 20. Flexible chain 62 is linked to rod 52 as by the eye 64 and is fastened similarly to the wire-line setting tool used to position the apparatus in the tubing. As will be fully understood later after reading a description of the operation of the device, the rod 52 remains permanently attached to the wire line setting tool 13 and is withdrawn from the tubing with the tool.

Figure 4 is an illustration showing the device as initially positioned for operation. A conventional casing head assembly 66 closes casing 11, and suspends the tubing 10. A seal 68 in this instance contines the upwardly coursing well lluids to the tubing. Valves 70 control the flow of fluids from the tubing through outlet 72. Stuiiing box 74, with additional valves 76 for operating control passes wire line 13 to a suspending device not shown. By means of valves 70, the feeder can be opened and closed while in the operating position in the tubing.

As will be readily understood in considering Figures l, 2 and 4 together, it is necessary that the device of this disclosure obstruct the flow of well lluids around it as little as possible. The collar stop selected to support the feeder, as shown in Figures 2 and 4, permits the passage of fluids therearound. This is a necessary limitation on any suspending means selected for use with this mechanism.l Further the reduced diameter of the feeder-body 3 of the feeder. Apertures 50 and 56 are let into the body 12 at the top of the supply chamber 30 and through and below the seal 18 to admit the rod 52 and assist pressure balance maintenance transfer from the tubing and permit release of the liquid supply through the metering chamber 28 in response to valve 20 operation.

Under normal operating conditions, the feeder described here will be used in the treatment of flowing oil, gas, gas condensate, and water wells. By use of the well known wire-line setting tools and a setting device such as the collar stop 16 shown, the tubular body comprising the device can be positioned at any selected collar in the tubing 10 as shown in Figure 4. Conventional, well-known equipment for this purpose is shown in Figure 4, described above, which illustrates standard casing 11, wire line 13 and the valved casing head 66 in addition to previously numbered elements of the feeder 12. Sleeve 14 may be extended or shortened by substituting a like element of different length to raise or lower the body 12 to any height relative to a known collar depth. Such a collar 51 positioning the collar stop 16 is shown in Figure 1.

When it is necessary to introduce reagents into flowing wells for reasons such as corrosion control, emulsion breaking, acidizing or the like, the liquid reagent is poured into the reservoir 30. As is evident, this supply chamber may be originally of any size, and, by means of couplings readily inserted, may be extended to increase the supply. To be better understood, later, the supply can be made sufficiently large to last for long periods of time and used as desired Without removing the feeder for refueling at short intervals.

Ihe supply of reagent, usually immiscible with the well fluids and of greater density, or can be made so, when put into supply chamber 30 forces the valve 20 downwardly, seating valve plug 24 in seat 36. As the valve is all one piece and the elements permanently spaced, the whole valve moves downwardly, opening lower valve seat 38 by moving valve plug 26 below partition 34, as shown in Figure l. Metering chamber 28 is thus free of reagent and open to well pressures. Except for the difference in hydraulic head between valve 20 and the pressure transfer aperture 50 which is more than compensated for by the hydraulic head of reagent in supply chamber 30, there is no pressure differential in the device. Rod 52, inserted through the collar stop 16 and seal 18, is retained in position to hold valve member 20 in the closed position by leaf spring 58. As the well is owing when the device is lowered into the tube 10, flow control valves 70 in Figure 4 being open, the valve member would be subjected to spasmodic move ment and if not held closed would bleed the contents of reservoir 30 before the device reached the selected level. Although the removable rod 52 is selected as the valve holding means for purposes of this description, it will be evident that any means serving this purpose is acceptable.

Once the feeder is in the tubing at the selected elevation as shown in Figure 4, the wire-line tool is disengaged and removed leaving the collar stop 16 with the attached well feedersuspended in the tubing 10 as shown in Figure l. Chain 62, fastened to the wire-line 13, withdraws rod 52 by turning leaf spring retainer 58 upwardly and valve member 20 is released. This operation is facilitated by using the positioning tool as shown, which is described in an advertising circular as being provided with shear pins enabling selective positioning and separation of the running-in line from the anchored tool. At this point the upward ow of well fluids exerts a pressure on the exposed surfaces of the weight, disc and valve plug shoulder accompanied by the velocity head of the upward movement of the ow which forces the valve 20 upwardly opening valve seat 36 to the downward movement of the heavier-than-well-fluid reagent from supply chamber 30 into metering chamber 28. Because of lower valve seat 38 being blocked by valve plug 26, the reagent is retained in chamber 28 until Inter released by operation of flow control valves 70. The downward movement of the reagent liquid is facilitated by the pressure balanced through apertures 50 and 56 which also admits the lighter specific gravity well fluids to till the vacated space as required. Valve member 20 in this raised position due to the support of the flowing well fluids, as shown in Figure 3, remains this way until the measured quantity of treating liquid in metering chamber 28 is released to the well.

In order to inject the metered supply of reagent now measured in chamber 28 and held there by the upward position of valve 20, it is necessary to reduce the eect of the velocity head and upward movement of the well uids. This can readily be accomplished by valving the well closed as by closing valves against pressure flow which reduces the velocity flow of the well fluid upwardly in tubing 10, decreases the pressure against the underside of valve 26, vane 40 and weight 42, and permits the valve plug 26 to open under the influence of gravity. No longer supported by the upward movement of well fluids valve 20 falls, pulled downwardly by the weight 42 and the added weight of its various parts no longer using the enlarged dimensions for active pressure support. The valve assumes the position shown in Figure 1 and discharges the reagent from metering chamber 28 into the well at the selected elevation. Upper valve plug 24, integrated with the other parts of the valve, likewise moves downwardly to seal upper` valve seat 36 and husbands the supply of reagent still in supply chamber 30. It is evident that repeated injections are available for use over extended periods without operational shut-downs to remove the feeder for aditional loading. The reciprocating movement of valve member 20 controlled by ow control valve operation of the flow of the well at the earths surface, iills and empties the metering chamber with regulated quantities of liquid from the supply chamber until the supply is exhausted. After such repeated operations, over a period of time, it is necessary to recharge the device.

A reagent apparatus free of wires, electrical valves and similar trip elements is disclosed capable of measured discharge by simple control of well flow. By suspending it free of cables as by a latching means as shown here, use of additional tools is permitted and continuous flow with reagent treatment maintained. Further, long shutdown periods necessitating equipment removal for single or multiple reagent shots are eliminated by tbe device illustrated. Changes in size and position of elements will be evident to those versed in the art. 1t is the intention of the inventor, however, to be limited in such alterations only insofar as they are not covered by the claims attached hereto and made a part hereof.

What is claimed is:

l. A reagent well feeder for use in well tubing of flowing wells comprising collar engaging means, n tubular body supportable by said collar engaging means, spaced apart transverse partitions closing the bottom of said tubular body and dividing it into a supply chamber and a metering chamber, a vertically disposed valve stem arranged to extend through the metering chamber, said partitions having apertures forming valve seats, inlet and outlet valve plugs fixed to the valve stem to selectively open and close the valve seat apertures in the metering chamber partitions, said valve stem being extended below the lower valve plug and positioning a disc and a Weight thereon, and centering springs externally mounted on said tubular body to operatively position the same.

2. A reagent well feeder for use in the well tubing of a flowing well comprising a tubular body with a top and bottom closure, a transverse partition spaced above the bottom closure separating the tubular body into an upper supply chamber and a lower metering chamber, a vertically disposed valve stem extending through aligned apertures in the bottom closure and the transverse partition, opposed conical valve plugs on said valve stem eX- ternal of the metering chamber adapted to selectively close the apertures adjacent said plugs, a disc and weight xedly .depending from the valve stem to vertically operate the same in response to well bore liquid movement, resilient means lextending from said body to position it in operating relation with the well tubing, means connected to the tubular body to engage the tubing at selected elevation, and means to releasably secure the valve member preliminary to operation.

3. The reagent well feeder of claim.2 further characterized in that the releasable means securing the valve member includes a removable rod inserted through the upper closure to bear on the upper conical valve plug holding said plugin the aperture of the partition until withdrawn.

4. A reagent well feeder for use in well tubing in a owing well comprising a tubular body divided into a metering chamber disposed below a reservoir, communicating valve means adapted to selectively admit reagent from the reservoir to the metering chamber and from the metering chamber to the well, pressure responsive means operably connected to vertically move the communicating valve means as a function of the flow of the well uids, and means to suspend the tubular body at selected elevations in the well tubing.

5. A reagent well feeder for use in the well tube of a owing well comprising a reservoir, a metering chamber below and communicating with the reservoir, opposed conical valve plugs xed in spaced relation and positioned to selectively open the metering chamber to the reservoir and the well, and pressure responsive means depending from the valve plugs into contact with the well fluids whereby the ow of said fluids operates the valve plugs relative to the metering chamber.

6. A reagent well feeder for use in well bore holes comprising a vertically movable tubular body insertable into the well bore hole and having at its lower portion valve-sealing partitions forming between them a metering chamber and having valve seats, the space below the lower partition being subject to well pressure, the tubular body enclosing above the upper partition a.reservoir for containing a reagent supply, a valve stem carrying two valves for the respective valve seats and vertically movable to seat either valve against its seat While unseating the other valve, means operable to hold the upper valve against its seat while moving the tubular body into selected feeding position, said holding means being releasable to thereby allow well pressure to eifect seating of the lower valve while unseating the upper valve to allow reagent to ow from the reservoir into the metering chamber, from which the reagent is owable into the well bore hole.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,851,414 Adams Mar. 29, 1932 2,223,936 Hart Dec. 3, 1940 2,265,962 Bent et al. Dec. 9, 1941 

1. A REAGENT WELL FEEDER FOR USE IN WELL TUBING OF FLOWING WELLS COMPRISING COLLAR ENGAGING MEANS, A TUBULAR BODY SUPPORTABLE BY SAID COLLAR ENGAGING MEANS, SPACED APART TRANSVERSE PARTITIONS CLOSING THE BOTTOM OF SAID TUBLUAR BODY AND DIVIDING IT INTO A SUPPLY CHAMBER AND A METERING CHAMBER, A VERTICALLY DISPOSED VALVE STEM ARRANGED TO EXTEND THROUGH THE METERING CHAMBER, SAID PARTITIONS HAVING APERTURES FORMING VALVE SEATS, INLET AND OUTLET VALVE PLUGS FIXED TO THE VALVE STEM TO SELECTIVELY OPEN AND CLOSE THE VALVE SEAT APERTURES IN THE METERING CHAMBER PARTITIONS, SAID VALVE STEM BEING EXTENDED BELOW THE LOWER VALVE PLUG AND POSITIONING A DISC AND A WEIGHT THEREON, AND CENTERING SPRINGS EXTERNALLY MOUNTED ON SAID TUBULAR BODY TO OPERATIVELY POSITION THE SAME. 